The publication is reproduced in full below:
TRIBUTE HONORING THE WORK OF RAYNA LEHMAN
______
HON. ANNA G. ESHOO
of california
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, August 10, 2021
Ms. ESHOO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary work of Rayna Lehman, a champion of women and labor and a true patriot, who is retiring after serving with great distinction and effectiveness for 39 years as the community services director of the San Mateo County Labor Council. She will receive the well-deserved honor of the Cope Unity Award at the 41st Annual Cope Banquet to be held at the Hyatt Regency at San Francisco International Airport on August 13, 2021.
Rayna was born in the Bronx, New York, to a working-class family. She was educated in public schools and was a day camp counselor, a salesperson, and a TSP telephone operator, before she came to California in 1970.
The list of glass ceilings Rayna has broken began with the San Mateo County Union Community Alliance, and the list of the positions she has held that never had been held by a woman before is a long one. The honors she has earned include the San Mateo Labor Council Unity Award; PALCARE Outstanding Service Award; McCowan Takalo Anti-Hunger Advocacy Award; APALA Community Services Leadership Award; the UC Berkeley Labor Center Helping Hands Award; Menlo Park Hometown Hero; Senate District 13 2021 Woman of the Year; the Hispanic Chamber Community Leader Award; and many more.
She participated in the creation of PALCARE, was appointed to the San Mateo County Childcare Partnership Council, and represented Labor on the inaugural First Five Community Steering Committee. She created
[email protected] and helped create the Community Health Reform Advisory Committee to introduce the Affordable Care Act to San Mateo County.
As the community services director of the San Mateo County Central Labor Council, Rayna created the Union Hardship Fund, trained union counselors to assist local union members, and coordinated a partnership with Second Harvest Silicon Valley Food Bank to provide twice monthly food distributions that help more than 800 families. She's a member of Office and Professional Employees Local 29 and served as president of Painters Local 15 for nine years.
Madam Speaker, I ask the entire House of Representatives to join me in thanking Rayna Lehman for her extraordinary work and in congratulating her on being honored for her exceptional leadership as San Mateo County Central Labor Council's community services director. The blessings of her work have touched thousands of families, and we are a better, stronger county and country because of her.
SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 145
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